By: Tiffany Chan
Life Course Scholar
A few weeks ago, the Life Course Scholars went to Casa de Manana, a retirement home located across La Jolla Cove. It reminded me of a luxury hotel, as the the interior of the home was well furnished and accompanied by a library, dining room, gym, swimming pool, and more that we did not get a chance to see. It was very interesting to see the disparity between this retirement home and the Gary and Mary West senior center, which we went to the week before and served poverty and low-income afflicted seniors, some of whom were even homeless. This huge disparity between the resources available and access to quality services were located only around a 20 minute drive away.
Casa de Manana’s exquisite exterior also reflected their highly educated and socially aware residents. I was lucky enough to really connect with one of the residents there. She and I were both born in San Francisco, and what a coincidence - we attended the same middle school! I was shocked to think what a small world this was, what are the odds that I would visit this senior home and talk to this sweet lady on this specific day and find out we both attended the same middle school? As I got to understand her history more, I was amazed at how educated this group of seniors were. I was told that 65% of the seniors in this community held graduate degrees (some even held multiple degrees!), whereas only a minute 5% of Americans hold a graduate degree. Some of the seniors were doctors, public health officials, most of them have traveled to multiple countries and across the United States.
Although I was impressed with the caliber of the residents and the home, I could not help but feel a bit sad as I know that not all seniors would be able to afford this type of lifestyle. I thought back to my own grandparents and how I could not picture them at Casa de Manana, mainly due to language barriers and financial security. I began thinking about other elderly people of color and their limited choices for retirement homes, as well as the institutionalized marginalization they face. I am glad that this program exists to bring awareness to these issues, and I am looking forward to touring more retirement communities!
Life Course Scholar
A few weeks ago, the Life Course Scholars went to Casa de Manana, a retirement home located across La Jolla Cove. It reminded me of a luxury hotel, as the the interior of the home was well furnished and accompanied by a library, dining room, gym, swimming pool, and more that we did not get a chance to see. It was very interesting to see the disparity between this retirement home and the Gary and Mary West senior center, which we went to the week before and served poverty and low-income afflicted seniors, some of whom were even homeless. This huge disparity between the resources available and access to quality services were located only around a 20 minute drive away.
Casa de Manana’s exquisite exterior also reflected their highly educated and socially aware residents. I was lucky enough to really connect with one of the residents there. She and I were both born in San Francisco, and what a coincidence - we attended the same middle school! I was shocked to think what a small world this was, what are the odds that I would visit this senior home and talk to this sweet lady on this specific day and find out we both attended the same middle school? As I got to understand her history more, I was amazed at how educated this group of seniors were. I was told that 65% of the seniors in this community held graduate degrees (some even held multiple degrees!), whereas only a minute 5% of Americans hold a graduate degree. Some of the seniors were doctors, public health officials, most of them have traveled to multiple countries and across the United States.
Although I was impressed with the caliber of the residents and the home, I could not help but feel a bit sad as I know that not all seniors would be able to afford this type of lifestyle. I thought back to my own grandparents and how I could not picture them at Casa de Manana, mainly due to language barriers and financial security. I began thinking about other elderly people of color and their limited choices for retirement homes, as well as the institutionalized marginalization they face. I am glad that this program exists to bring awareness to these issues, and I am looking forward to touring more retirement communities!